@baseballlover312: I guess we still can. Let's just say Mandagsfjord knows how to miss as well, seeing a couple of the names he threw out.
@Atlantius: Hopefully Manninen is more tempted by a chance in the PT. Not everyday a Finn gets an offer from a PT team, and we hope that will be more attractive for him than riding in the PCT, seeing he can finish his development both as a PT and PCT rider :
@jt1109: And I kind of hoped Manninen would have relatively few teams interested in him... Best of luck with your transfer season, happy to talk with you during transfers, but seeing your goals, I suspect you have a very specific rider in your mind as your transfer target #1, and it won't be one who rode 2015 with Aker - MOT!
Well, there have been a Finn in PT the last two seasons so it's not that rare
I'm certain that his massive training effort taking him from one of the worst riders in CT the last two years to potential PT-ladout man is due to him REALLY wanting to stay in the project of devloping Finnish Cycling
Good evening, this is once again Per Mandagsfjord bringing you the news worth reporting on Aker - MOT. The transfer season is always full of unexpected turns, twists and nerves. This year being no exception, but no one could pre-transfers imagine the way it has actually gone for Aker - MOT.
As team manager ember confirmed to me before it all kicked off, he could simply not see a way Edvald Boasson Hagen, their big star would stay in the team for another season.
And thus, according to my sources close to the team, everything went as planned for a long time for the Norwegian team. Edvald Boasson Hagen was likely to leave and join one of two teams showing big interest in the Norwegian and also coming up with an offer we could accept.
As I've understood it, that was when Banc na hÉireann and their manager Dippofix out of the blue asked for Martin's availability, after having an enquiry for Sondre Holst Enger declined.
Somehow common ground were found between the two teams, which in a very unexpected move sees Martin leave Aker - MOT.
That will, according to my reliable sources, mean Edvald Boasson Hagen stays with the team, just when everyone, the rider himself and team's management included, expecting it to only be a few hours until he would official leave,
It's a complete turnaround, and team manager ember didn't want to comment my information, except confirming Martin has left in a deal also including Sørtveit, and thus Boasson Hagen will stay. It's to be expected Aker - MOT will make a statement later.
That was all for now. My next report could very well be on Grieg-Eftel. Though, whereever I report, you know it will be the real stuff considering Norwegian cycling. See you then.
Per Mandagsfjord,
bikepro.net
Edvald Boasson Hagen gives the classics another shot after having missed out on them the past two seasons. The picture is from his solo win in Amstel Gold Race back in 2013.
We're very happy to announce our first signing this transfer season. Andreas Vangstad from Kristiansand, a city south in Norway, joins our team. He was signed from the Free Agents pool, and he'll be vital to our team already in 2016.
Andreas Vangstad
24 years old
3.00
Wage: 50,000 Euros
Time trialist
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
73
68
67
73
71
72
70
60
65
67
73
74
72
There's no hiding our lack of time trialists, and team time trial will be a struggle at best. With his 73 time trial stat, Vangstad will be of great use. His secondary stats are also decent, which should make him a solid rider for the future, when his development should ensure he becomes a Pro Tour rider at a high level.
The greatest thrill for us last season was Daniel Martin upsetting many of the greatest stage racers in the world in Tirreno-Adriatico. In the Race of the Two Seas, he showed up at his very best, being a protagonist on all three difficult stages. Winning the Queen stage, gapping everyone, all he had to do on the penultimate stage, the final mountain stage, was defend his jersey as he led by 1'38.
That was easier said than done, with Spilak, Schleck, Tenorio, Sicard and Kritskiy being some of his opponents. Both Spilak and Schleck gave it all to gap our leader, but Martin fought on, caught them towards the end of the final climb. He went on to outsprint both, and stamped his authority on the race. It was an unexpected big win.
Starting this transfer season, we had every intention of keeping our top Irish climber. He proved he's more than capable, also going up against the very best, doing well in the Tour de France as well, and we looked forward to see what he could this season with an even stronger team to back him up. Though, as there were a crucial turning point in our transfer season and a sudden enquiry from the only professional Irish team about his availability came, we decided to accept the unexpected offer from Banc na hÉireann.
That means Martin unfortunately only got one season in our team. When we signed him last year, we planned several years ahead, but that's just how it is. We wish him all the best with his new team, and we hope he'll prove his class also for them, just like he did riding with us and Pendleton's the previous years. Martin himself also made a comment on the transfer:
Admittedly I would've preferred to continue in Aker - MOT. We started a great journey last year, and I'm sure we would only have improved this season. Though, with the limited freedom the management had and have in this transfer season, I also understand why they've let me leave, after all I see that Eddie is invaluable to the team. I have no hard feelings for the decision, and hopefully I can go home to Ireland, win some races and help boost cycling in my own country, similar to what Aker - MOT have done in Norway.
Aker - MOT
ember
BEATING THE BEST: Stage 6 in Tirreno-Adriatico saw Martin defend his blue leader's jersey against Spilak, Schleck and others. The GC win was arguably Aker - MOT's biggest win in 2015.
@DubbelDekker: Yeah, and definitely not one I saw coming. Very happy with keeping EBH, eventhough it's sad to let Martin go, but as it turned out, one of them simply had to leave, and with the obvious national focus of the team, it was kind of an obvious choice.
Five more riders in
We're happy to say our transfer season is about to end after some very hectic and intense moments. We've already presented Andreas Vangstad, who was the first rider to sign with us this year, and here comes five more.
Daniel Oss
29 years old
4.100
Wage: 80,000 Euros
Rouleur
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
78
66
74
67
76
75
73
68
74
74
65
68
71
A strong rouleur who was signed due to his abilites to put sprinter in the right position in the final kilometers. His combination of stats could see him play a part in a possible train formed for one of our team's sprinters, Kristoff or Holst Enger. Was bought from Pro Tour colleagues Gazelle for 500,000 Euros. The Italian is the only rider we've bought on a permanent deal from another team this transfer season.
Michal Golas
32 years old
4.100
Wage: 60,000 Euros
Rouleur
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
78
65
71
67
72
70
71
66
74
72
75
62
67
Just like Oss, the veteran from Poland has been signed due to his abilites as a rouleur. Together with Oss one of the strong guys in the peloton. He's well aware of the role he has been signed to, as we hope he'll help make the sprint preparation for our sprinters as good as possible. We're very happy to see him agree to a 60,000 Euros wage, as we certainly think he could be worth a lot more. It shows his personality and character, we think, a humble guy who has the power and will to work like a madman for others.
Romain Feillu
31 years old
4.100
Wage: 110,000 Euros
Leadout rider
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
74
55
69
61
74
72
76
56
77
78
79
60
70
A key rider, brought in from the Free Agent market. Admittedly a somewhat hefty wage for a 77 sprinter, but he isn't signed as a sprinter, but as a leadout rider. He will be whereever Kristoff is as long as cobblestones aren't on the agenda, hoping to make a difference as our final leadout rider in most cases. In addition to a nice combination of stats for a leadout rider, he also has the experience after serving for Swift and Lo Cicero the last two seasons.
Sindre Skjøstad Lunke
23 years old
2.00
Wage: 50,000 Euros
Climber
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
66
71
68
67
70
70
72
58
60
63
67
68
70
A promising Norwegian climber ready to take his chance in the Pro Tour. No expectations on his shoulders for 2016. Come 2019, and he should be a key domestique on mountainous terrain, but also able to ride his own chances on the legendary mountain stages. Signed on a minimum wage, and he can barely wait to get his career as a pro cyclist going.
Stanislau Bazhkou
25 years old
4.14
Wage: 55,000 Euros
Time trialist
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
70
67
74
74
71
73
69
53
63
63
67
61
74
Isostar - Adriatic asked us to take the Belarusian on loan this season, and we were happy to accept. His deal is confirmed in a few hours, but Bazhkou has already moved to Norway for 2016 to come closer to his team mates this year. He'll serve as a valuable domestique, being a capable puncheur combined with being one of our best time trialists this year. He'll get a chance in at least one Grand Tour this season, which should be a highlight for him personally. We're paying 30,000 Euros of his wage.
In total we brought in six riders this transfer season, with Feillu earning the most of those six with his 110,000 Euros wage. It underlines that we see 2016 as a year to take a step back to prepare for the future, as we've let go of Martin and not been able to replace him with a true leader.
Best of luck with your transfer season, happy to talk with you during transfers, but seeing your goals, I suspect you have a very specific rider in your mind as your transfer target #1, and it won't be one who rode 2015 with Aker - MOT!
Andreas Vangstad
Daniel Oss
Michal Golas
Romain Feillu
Stanislau Bazhkou
